Gentildonna became the first 3-year-old filly to win the Japan Cup on Sunday, but the victory was marked by controversy after she prompted a lengthy stewards' inquiry for interfering with Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runnerup Orfevre.
Gentildonna, the filly's triple crown champion who went off as the third choice, nearly lost the ¥250 million winner's check after ramming into triple crown winner and favorite Orfevre, who lost balance as he was switching gears on the final straight at Tokyo Racecourse.
The Yasunari Iwata-ridden Gentildonna, who had a 4-kg handicap, held on to win by a nose in the first-ever meeting between the two different triple crown champions of Japan.